Newsletter: Demand for Records from Wisconsin Fake Elector; Book Removals in Georgia County
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In a letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission ([link removed]) this week, American Oversight demanded the release of public records held by Commissioner Robert Spindell, who has failed to provide us with complete responses to numerous requests for records in his possession.

Spindell was one of 10 Trump supporters who signed Wisconsin’s fake electoral certificate after the 2020 election, and has in the past made ([link removed]) false claims ([link removed]) about the prevalence of widespread voter fraud.
* Last year, aspart of a civil settlement ([link removed]) , Spindell and the nine other fake electors admitted that their actions were part of an effort to overturn the 2020 election, acknowledged that President Biden had won Wisconsin, and agreed not to serve as presidential electors in any election in which Trump is running.
* Spindell also drew severe criticism last year for telling Milwaukee Republicans theyshould be “proud” ([link removed]) that turnout of Black and Latino voters was lower in 2022 than in 2018. He hasfaced multiple ([link removed]) calls to resign ([link removed]) from pro-democracy and voting-rights groups.


Our demand letter identifies 22 requests we’ve sent to WEC that are still awaiting complete responses. It also seeks confirmation of whether Spindell has turned over any official communications stored on his personal devices and accounts.
* According to records ([link removed]) previously obtained by American Oversight, in May 2021,Spindell used a non-official email account to communicate with an administrator at the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau ([link removed]) , which later that year concluded a review ([link removed]) of Wisconsin’s election, finding no evidence of widespread fraud.
* Among the records requested by American Oversight are Spindell’s text messages with individuals involved in the 2020 fake electors scheme, communications with legislative leadership and parties affiliated with the effort to challenge the 2020 results, and communications regarding fraudulent absentee ballot requests submitted by external groups.


“The people of Wisconsin have a right to know with whom Commissioner Spindell is communicating about official matters, especially given his past efforts to undermine trust in our democracy and to overturn a free and fair election,” said interim Executive Director Chioma Chukwu.
* “We urge the Wisconsin Elections Commission to confirm whether Commissioner Spindell possesses records responsive to our requests — some of which go as far back as 2021 — to ensure its compliance with state law,” she added.

On the Records

Book Removals in Georgia County School Libraries
American Oversight obtained records — reported on this week by the Cobb County Courier ([link removed]) in Georgia — revealing the titles of at least 30 books with LGBTQ+ themes or characters that were removed from the county school district libraries last summer in response to state laws barring the teaching of “divisive concepts” like racism and gender identity..
* Georgia’s divisive concepts law, HB 1084 ([link removed]) , was signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in April 2022.
* The Cobb County School District set new rules ([link removed]) in August 2022 to comply with the law, noting that the district would continue to use “curricula that addresses the topics of slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation, or racial discrimination.”


We requested the release of all records the school district held related to HB 1084, including any curriculum reviews that had been conducted because of the law and any proposed or enacted changes to teaching materials.
* The records show that many other classic titles were flagged for review for other reasons. Among them were Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and “Antony and Cleopatra” and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”
* Other titles — including several race-themed books — were also flagged for topics considered “harmful” to students, including LGBTQ references.


American Oversight is investigating ([link removed]) efforts to politicize, censor, and weaken public education, from early elementary school through higher education, in Georgia and other states. Records we’ve obtained have shed light on how “divisive concepts” laws have removed important historical information and references to other cultures from race-related curriculum ([link removed]) and math textbooks ([link removed]) in Florida and Virginia ([link removed]) .

Other Stories We're Following

Election Denial and Threats to Democracy
* She was a firebrand Democrat. Now, Cleta Mitchell is a rising star of Republican election denialism (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* GOP jump-starts 2024 election challenges with Trump-inspired lawsuits (Washington Post ([link removed]) )


Voting Rights
* Trump-aligned Republicans make noncitizen voting — already illegal in federal elections — a top 2024 target (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Continued conversation about noncitizen voting could chill immigrant turnout, advocates say (Florida Phoenix ([link removed]) )
* Louisiana added to list of states sharing voter data with Alabama (Alabama Reflector ([link removed]) )
* Idaho officials work to ensure noncitizens do not vote in state, local elections through order (Idaho Capital Sun ([link removed]) )
* Video of Florida voter registration drive used to mislead on proof of citizenship question (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Utah’s gerrymandered House map ignored voters’ will, state Supreme Court says (New York Times ([link removed]) )


State and National News
* Wisconsin judge rejects attempt to revive recall targeting top GOP lawmaker (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Unmarked cars and secret orders: How a pharmacy prepared drugs for Texas’ executions (NPR ([link removed]) )
* Ocasio-Cortez introduces articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justices Thomas and Alito (CNN ([link removed]) )
* GOP megadonor circulates Louisiana Constitution draft with school funding, tax breaks up for debate (News from the States ([link removed]) )
* Climate change references removed from Florida textbooks, authors say (Axios ([link removed]) )
* Civil rights groups ask feds to investigate police response to campus protests (NBC News ([link removed]) )


LGBTQ Rights
* Judge cites new Supreme Court ruling in blocking health care anti-discrimination protections for transgender Americans (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Judge rules Missouri AG has no right to medical records of transgender minors at Wash U (Missouri Independent ([link removed]) )


Abortion and Reproductive Rights
* Indiana Department of Health seeks dismissal of abortion records lawsuit (Indiana Capital Chronicle ([link removed]) )
* The gospel of Matthew Trewhella: How a militant anti-abortion activist is influencing Republican politics (ProPublica ([link removed]) )
* Texas funnels millions to anti-abortion groups with little oversight (Texas Tribune/ProPublica/CBS News ([link removed]) )
* DeSantis, Florida House pay outsiders to influence financial statement on abortion measure (Tallahassee Democrat ([link removed]) )
* Nebraska abortion fight fuels record filings to remove signatures from petitions (Nebraska Examiner ([link removed]) )
* Arkansas abortion rights groups collect enough signatures to advance ballot measure (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Kansas’ top court bolsters a state right to abortion and strikes down 2 anti-abortion laws (Associated Press ([link removed]) )


Government Transparency and Public Records Law
* Missouri attorney general still working through 2023 Sunshine Law backlog (Missouri Independent ([link removed]) )
* Residents face growing obstacles to public records — and legislators are making them worse (Idaho Capital Sun ([link removed]) )


Immigration
* Kinney County sheriff to buy pepper ball guns for deterring migrants who ‘try to storm the point of entry’ (Texas Observer ([link removed]) )
* Missouri House Speaker creates committee to study crime by undocumented immigrants (KCUR ([link removed]) )
* Indiana AG Todd Rokita sues City of East Chicago over 'sanctuary' status for immigrants (Indianapolis Star ([link removed]) )


Trump Accountability
* A conservative leading the pro-Trump Project 2025 suggests there will be a new American Revolution (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* How Mar-a-Lago became the center of gravity for the hard right (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* A Trump ally is training 75 armed citizens. Is that a militia? (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Trump asks judge to toss hush money conviction and dismiss case following Supreme Court immunity ruling (ABC News ([link removed]) )

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